Microsoft Business Solutions Announces Integration With Preactor Scheduling

FARGO, N.D., Nov. 19, 2002 — Microsoft® Business Solutions today announced the availability of Preactor 200 Finite Capacity Scheduling (FCS) Finite Production Scheduling product integration with its Microsoft Business Solutions Manufacturing — Great Plains®
solution. The announcement was made at Microsoft Business Solutions’ fourth annual Manufacturing Summit conference. The integration is a cooperative effort involving Microsoft Business Solutions, its reselling partner Quinn & Associates Inc. and Preactor International. Preactor FCS provides a constraint-based, graphical, finite scheduling system that enables companies to more accurately predict and schedule their production orders based on available capacity and production resource constraints.

Microsoft Business Solutions Manufacturing — Great Plains is a comprehensive business system for small and midsize manufacturers. The system includes full-featured functionality for financials, distribution and all aspects of manufacturing planning, execution and management. The integration of the Great Plains solution and Preactor product helps customers gain control over their production, reduce inventory and be more responsive to their customers. By giving an accurate view of capacity on the shop floor and illuminating any scheduling issues, the integrated system helps businesses better manage production schedules and rapidly reschedule to meet customer commitments.

“This is a significant enhancement to the Manufacturing — Great Plains solution for our customers,”
said Mike Frichol, general manager of manufacturing solutions at Microsoft Business Solutions.
“The Preactor scheduling system enables our customers to easily and cost-effectively extend the production planning functionalities and execution capabilities of their Great Plains solution.”

“We are proud to be working with Microsoft Business Solutions and Quinn & Associates, our master reseller in North America, to bring to their customers the opportunity to use our products to increase the efficiency of their operations and enhance customer service through better on-time delivery performance,”
said Mike Novels, chairman of Preactor International.

The integration is available immediately and will be included with the base product in Microsoft Business Solutions Manufacturing — Great Plains Release 7.5. Preactor is available in North America from Microsoft Business Solutions reselling partner Quinn & Associates.

“We are very excited about our relationship with Microsoft Business Solutions,”
said Gregory Quinn, president of Quinn & Associates.
“The Preactor product line offers tremendous return on investment, and Microsoft Business Solutions’ manufacturing customers will greatly enhance their competitive edge by adding Preactor to their software suite.”

About Microsoft Business Solutions

Microsoft Business Solutions offers a wide range of business applications designed to help small and midmarket businesses become more connected with customers, employees, partners and suppliers. Microsoft Business Solutions’ applications automate end-to-end business processes across financials, distribution, project accounting, electronic commerce, human resources and payroll, manufacturing, supply chain management, business intelligence, sales and marketing management, and customer service and support. More information about Microsoft Business Solutions can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/businesssolutions/ .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.

Microsoft and Great Plains are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Great Plains Software Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp.

Navision a/s is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corp.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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